Driving mechanism for electric fans.



G. OLSON.

DRIVINGMECHANISM lFOR 4ELECTRIC FANS.

APPLICATION FiLED' JUNE 19A.. |915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented J une 11, 1918.

sans naman n 'USTAF OLSON, 0F CHICAGQ-ILLINOI-S, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUIS GREENE-ERG AND ON.-SIXTH T WILLARD M. MCEWEN, BOTI-I OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRIVING MECHNISIVI FOR ELECTRIC FANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 19, 1915. I Serial No. 35,121.

form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to `an electric or like fan, and more particularly to that type of fan such as shown inthe prior Patent Bio, 1,125,681, dated January 19, 1915, and

issued to Louis Greenberg and myself as joint inventors'.

In the fan described and shown in said patent, the mechanism is. such that the fan may be automatically tilted in a vertical plane during either the oscillation or rotation of the fan bodily in a horizontal plane, or, in other words, the fan is ltilted bodily in both directions durin either the rotation or oscillation of the fan o dily about an axis substantially transverseto the axis of rotation of the fan shaft.

The subject-matter of the present invention has particular reference to the mechanism for effecting the vertical tilting and either the oscillation'or rotation of the fan bodily during the operation of the same.

Among the objects of my invention is to vimprove the construction 0f such mechanism in the several particulars as will hereinafter appear, and, further, to provide a construction whereby the tilting of the fan bodily ina vertical pla-ne will set up forces causing the fan to turn or oscillate bodily in a horizontal plane, that is, in a plane transverse to the vertical plane in which the'fan is tilted vertically. y The invention consists further 1n the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawingsv Figure 1 is a side elevational view, wlth parts in section, of a fan or like device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is ran elevational view of the mechanism for connecting thev motor of the fan with a wave-like track, to'be hereinafter referred to Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken on l1ne 3-3 of Fig. 1;l

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 1 4 of' Fig. l; and, y

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view,ftaken on line 5-5 of Fig. l.

In the accompanying drawings, l have show-n, in detail, one preferred form of driving'mechanism embodying the features of my invention and aspapplied to an electric' fan of that type comprising an upright supporting member or base 10, upon the upper end of which is mounted, for movement around a vertical axis., a motor casing 11. The motor housed within said casing is provided with an armature shaft 12 horizontally arranged and journaled at its ends in suitable bearings provided therefor in said casing 11. One end of said armature shaft .l2 extends-beyond said casing and has Secured thereto the blades 13, 13 of the fan. Saidc fan blades are protected by a wire guard 14, which is attached to the motor casing 11 by means of arms 15, 15.

A motor casing -11 has a depending lug 16 formed on the under side thereof, which lug is received lin the bifurcated head 17 on the upper end of a vertically arranged shaft or post 18. The .latter is journaled in an upright position in said supporting member or base 10. Said lug 16 is pivotally connect- Patented June 11, 1918.

ed Vwith said post 18 by apivot pin 19,Which is inserted through said lug and into both parts of said bifurcated head 17. Said pivot pin 19 permits said casing 11 and its connected parts to be tilted in a vertical'plane, both up and down. Said post 1'8 may be either oscillated or rotated about a vertical axis and is held from vertical lmovement with respect to the base 10 by means of a collar 20 on the lower end of said post and bearing upwardly against a downwardly facing shoulder 22 on said stand 10. (See Fig. l.)

In order to eect either an oscillato or rotary movement of the casing 11 an its directly connected parts about a vertical axis during the operation of the motor, and, further, to impart at the same time an autol matic tilting t3 the casing 11 during the relative rotation of the base 10 and tlie casing 11, Iprovide the following construe tion: I

Rotatably mounted on the upper end of the disposed, annular flange or base 10 is al vertically -arranged sleeve 23, which embraces the bifurcated head 17, bearing balls 24, 24 are interposed between the lower end of said sleeve, and said stand 10,Y

and, as illustrated in the drawings, said bear ing balls are located'in a race-way, the top waves substantially diametrically opposite the depressions thereof.4 Said annular track is provided around one of its annularedges with rack-teeth 28, and the upper face of said flange forms a smooth bearing surface for rollers 29, 30 mounted on stud shafts 31, 31 secured to the'depending lug 16. A gear pinion 32 meshes with said rack-teeth 28. and, as shown, said gear pinion is mounted on the lower endof-a vertical shaft 33 jour. naled in said 'casing 11. rllhe track sleeve 23 in itself constitu-tes the vsubject-matter of my application Serial No. 53,694 and led October 2, 1315.

Y1`he mechanism for connecting said gear pinion with and for operating the same from said armature shaft 12 is constructed as follows: As illustrated in the drawings, said/ vertical shaft 33 is journaled in the casing 11 on the side thereof adjacent the fan blades and isv provided at its upper end with a horizontally arranged gear wheel 34, which meshes with a gear pinion 35 on the lower end of a vertical Isleeve 36. Said sleeve 36 is loosely mounted on a vertically arranged shaft 37 journa'led in said meter casing and offset laterally from said shaft y 33. Said sleeve 36 is provided, above said gear pin# ion 35, with a worin 38 meshing with a worm 39 on the armaturel shaft 12. 1n. order to lock the sleeve 36 to the shaft 37land there'- by transmit power from the'armature shaft to the gear pinion 32 meshing wiith the rackteetli 28, li provide a locking'inember 40 in the shape of va pawl and pivotally mounted y between its ends on said shaft 37. (See Fig.

2.) @ne end of said pawl is adapted to be swung into and out of a notch or slot `41 provided in said sleeve 36. `When the `locking end of the pawl is in said notch, the4 sleeve 36 and shaft 37 are locked together, and power is transmitted from the armature shaft 12 to the vertical shaft 33. On the other hand, when the locking end of said pawl is out of said notch, the sleeve 36 and shaft 37 are disconnected, and the armature shaft turns freely and without rotating either of said vertical shafts 33, 37 or the pinion 32. Said pawl is swung in a direction to effect the disconnection of the sleeve 36 and shaft 37 by an endwise movable operating member in the form of a set screw 42.

ieeeeoe v A spring 43 serves to movesaid loclring pawl in theopposite direction, or in a direction to cause the locking end of the pawl to .enter said notch 41. The mechanism for connecting the sleeve 36- to and disconnecting the saine from a shaft, forms the subjectmatter of my application filed duly 16, 1914, and bearing Serial No. 351,415.

A rheostatl of the usual construction is vlocated at the bottom of and within the hollow base 10. Said rheostat embraces a switch lever 43a (see Fig. 1) adapted to be' moved over a plurality of. contacts (not shown) and ley/means of which the circuit is closed 'between the source and the motor of the fan. Electrical connection 'between the rheostat and the motor may be afforded by means suoli as shown in said Patent No. 1,125,684, or by the` construction illustrated in Fig. l ofthe struction comprises rings 44,45 carried on the lower end of said post or vertical nected by screws 46, 46, to each' of which vis attached a conductor 47, 47 extending through the hollow post 18 and leadingto the motor of the fan. Slidably mounted on the base 10 are two plunger-like brushes 43, 48, one foreach ring 44, 45. Said brushes fare normally urged inwardly and held in Contact with said rings by springs 49, 49. Conductors or wires 50, 50 connect each of said brushes with the rheostat.

1n order., to'hold the track-sleeve 23 stationary while the vertical shaft or post 18- is free to'rotate or turnv about a verticai axis, 1 provide a stop member 51 comprising a short tube section 52 screwed into an 'aperture in said track-sleeve. (See Figs. 1

and Slidablymounted within said tube 52v is a plunger 53, the inner end of which is adapted to enter either one of a plurality of notches or recesses 54 in `said base 10.. Located within said tube 52 is a spring 52Et actin' to urge the plunger inwardly and ree tain its inner end in one of said notches 54 and thereby connect the track-sleeve 23 with the base 10. The plunger' 53 is provided at its outer end with a head 55 having a trans veise rib 56 formed onV the inner face thereshaft Said rings are-spaced'apart, but conof. Said rib 56 is adapted to bear against the'outer annular edge of said tube 52, and formed in said edge are two diametrically disposed slots 52b adapted to receive said rib when the inner end of the plunger entends into one of said recesses When said rib 56 and slots 52b are engaged, said plunger 53 is held from rotation in said tube 52, and the inner end of said plunger entending into one ofthe notches 54, sai'd track`1 sleeve 23 and base 10 are locked together and the track-sleeve held stationary. To unlock the tiacl-sleeve 23 from the base 10, so that said track-sleeve may be free to rev tate about said base, the plunger .'53 is drawn slots 69 in the outer end of said tube.

construction and operation of said plunger 'withdrawn from the notch 54 and the rib 56 is free from the slots 52", and thereupon the plunger is turned slightly, so as to aly low the rib 56 to bear against that portion of the outer end of said tube 52 between said slots 521 and hold the plunger out of the notches. In this position of the parts, the tra'cl'r-sleeve 23 and base 10 are disconnected, and one may rotate relativel to the other.

To lock the vertical sha t orpost 18 to the base 10 andhold the former stationary, I provide a stop member 57, which comprises a short tube section 58 screwed into a hole in the base 10 below the lower end of the track sleeve 23. Slidably mounted in said tube 58 is a plunger 59, the inner end of which is adapted to entera vertical groove or slot 60 formed in said post 18. As shown in Fig. 5, I have provided a plurality of such vertical slots 60, all in the saine horizontal plane, but spaced apart cireumferentially. A spring located in said tube 58 serves to-normally urge said plunger 59 inwardly and maintain itsinner end in one of said vertical slots. Said plunger 59 is provided with a head 61, the inner face of which is provided with a transverse rib 62 adapted to enter alined slots 63 in the outer end of said tube 58. When the rib 62 is in said slots 63, the plunger 59 is held from rotation with respect to said tube 58, and the inner end of said plunger is held in one of the vertical slots 60 in said post 18. When the parts are in such position, said post or vertical shaft 18V is held from rotation about a vertical axis, and consequently the casing 11 mounted upon the upper end of said post is held from'being rotated or turned bodily in a horizontal plane. To disconnect the vertical shaft or post 18 from the base 10, the plunger 59 is drawn outwardly until the rib 62 thereof is free from said slots G3. A slight. turn of the plunger will remove the rib from alinement with said slots 63 and position said rib so as to bear against the outer end of said tube 58 between said slots 63.A

In order to limit the degree of oscillation of the vertical shaft or post 18, I provide a stop member 64 embracing a short tube 'sec tion G5 screwed into a hole provided in said base 10 below the lower end of the trackformed in said post 18. A spring in Said tube 65 serves to normally urge said plunger 66 inwardly, and said plunger is provided with a head (i7a having a transverse rib 68 adapted to enter outwardly opening allned The 66 and its connected parts are the same as the two stop members 51 and 57 above described. As shown in Fig. 4, said slot 67 is in the form of a straight lerf provided in said post 18, and, when the inner end of said plunger 66 extends into said slot, the degree of oscillation of the vertical shaft or post 18 is limited by the inner lend of said plunger cpntacting alternately with the ends of said s ot.

Conductors 70, 70 lead from the rheostat to a source of electricity.

The operation of the device shown is as follows:

There are a number of different n1ovements of the fan which may be obtained with the construction herein shown and described. One of these movements is ob tained if the vertieal'shaft or post 18 is locked to the base 10 by the stop member 57, and the track-sleeve 23 is unlocked from the post and free to rotate von the base 10. 1With the ost 18 held stationary, and the circuit to tlie motor closed through the rheostat, the fan blades 13 will be revolved, and at the same time the track-sleeve 23 Will be 9o turned about a vertical axis through the medium of .the gear pinion 32, which vat such time is being revolved by the motor of tained by releasing the vertical shaft or post 18 and securing the track sleeve 23 to the base 10 by the stop member 51. If then the fan motor is set in operation the gear pinion 32 will rotate, but, since the track-sleeve 23 is held stationary and the post 18 is free 11o to revolve, said gear pinion 32 will roll around the outer annular edge of the same and thereby cause the casin 11 and its parts to be revolved or turned bo ily in a horizontal plane and about a vertical axis, While at the same time being tilted up and down in a vertical plane, due to the factthat the rollers 29, 30 roll over the crowns and de? pressions of the now stationary Wave-like track 27. Thus, if the fan is placed in the center of a room, it will direct its air currents entire-ly around the room in a horizontal plane and, at the same timeup and down in a vertical plane.

Another movement of the fan may be obtained by releasing both the post 18 and the track-sleeve 23 from the base 10, so that such parts may be free to rotate independently of each other. The' stop-member 64:,at this time, is in its released position. Upon set- 130 'roller 29 starts up ting the fan motor in motion, the crate substantially as follows: fis the pinion32 is'driven, the same acts to turn the now loosely mounted track-sleeve about itsvertical axis and continuously in one direction. firs the roller 29 upwardly inclined portion 7l oi thetracku sleeve, the pressure of the roller on the track is in a direction opposed to the direction. o rotation imparted to the track-sleeve oy the gear pinion 32. With such two forces in opposition, the tree rotation of the traclrsleeve is retarded, and the pinion tends to roll aroundtlie track-sleeve, and the 1s turned in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation ot the gear-pinion, with the result that the track-sleeve and motor casing are oscillated in such direction until the roller 29 passes over the crown ot the inclined portion of the track-sleeve. As the roller 29 starts down the joined inclined.

'ortion of the track-sleeve, the direction of oscillation olf the parts is changed. or reversed, due in part to "he tact that the torce ot the roller on the track, aided hy the eti-ect of gravity on thetilting niotor eas e to rnove the traclic sleeve and niotor in the direction o' rotation olif the pinion or in the direction normally urged traclpsleeve by the, revolving Under the edect ot such forces, the track-sleeve in the direction stair efiectaccelerated and lcontinues until the nent upwardly i the d rection of clined portion, whereupon oscillation is again reversed, or in di-l rection first stated. -rilliis operation continues as long as the tan motor is in motion., inasmuch as the traclr-'sleeve is provided with a plurality ofjoined upwardly and downwardlyv inclined portions,l the motor casing and its parts are oscillated hack and ortli during the continued rotation oi the parts about a vertical axis. As said roller 29 travels over said upwardly inclined por-l tliat the` tion 71, it is oia course understood cas-ing il and revolving tan blades are tilted upwardly. Atter the roller 29 passes over the crown and starts down the joined downwardly inclined portion 7 2 of said upwardly inclined portion '7l of said trac the casing 1l under the effect of the action oit gravity thereon is tilted dowiiwardlj fand the finguiar position ot the revol ei g tan lblades being also changed, the pressure of the volurne of air on said revolving blades acts to assist the effect of gravity on such parts,

with the result that said casing and tre-ole sleeve 23 are turned in the direction of rotation of said gear pinion 32. casingtl'l oscillates in the direction oi rotation oi travels up eacn inclined portion ot the. track and oscillates in the opposite dir Jion by the ocre tained oi' the action of gravity assure. ci the air on the revolvl i ssalades as said roller 29 travels over each downwardly inclined portion oi said traer. tvvill oe noted that the casing. il during its rotation. in a horizontal plane and about a, vertical artis also oscillates haci; and forth and F ve' ical plane. vl,With the fan thus operated, it will direct a current of air in all direcM tions in a horizontal plane and also haci; and iforth in. said lior'nontal plane, and, in addition., will direct a current et air up and down iii a vert-ical plane during; its,l coin hined oscillatory and rotative' inovenient in a horizontal planefyldroin the foregoing it is noted that, when. the motor and its con nected tan blades are set in operation, with' the post and track sleeve loose on the base l() dnrino1 the tiltin ot the inotor and its e i. revolving .ian blades in a vertical plane cer and the stop nieinoei- 64; havingl its inner end proieetingg into said horizontal slot 6'4", as ier nioveinent if the llflhen the parte are n lull lines in said shown in 4i, a tui lan los obtained,

Lhe positions shown i oa is positioned iii said slot o?, and tA track-sleeves and post 'iS vare to turn or rotate about 'I vertical axis independent ot each other the 'tain motor is now gear pinion 232 serves to drive the track sleeve 23 about a vertical axis. ,eis the roller 29 adjacent the gear pinion 32 travels up an upwardly inclined portion 7l ci the wave-like .track 27, the forces liereinbefore referred to tend to cause the inion 32 to turn the track-sleeve in one direction, and as a result the post 18 is given `a`relative ino'veiiient in suoli direction until one end ot the slot 67 contacts with the inner end o'l the plunger 66, as shown by one of the dotted lines in Fig. Il.. wWhen such parts are in Contact, the post i8 is held against rota tion in the direction stated until :tlie gear pinion 32 travels over the crown ot said upwardly inclined portion. As the said roller 29 travels down the joined downwardly inclined portion 'l2 of the vwavedilre 2?, the tracltsleeve and post 18 again relatively to each, other in the opposite direction until the oppositev end'oi "l di? contacts with the plunger 66, as

the other 'tl-'ic dotted lines in i. ifi/viren s i parts arc'in con-y c 'i8 is held against rota-- addition, is automatically tilted in a set in operationlloy. closing the circuit through therlieostat, the l tion in the direction of rotation of the gear -pinion 32, and the operation above described repeated. In other words, the post 18 is oscillated back and forth about a vertical axis, the degree of oscillation being 'deterv mined by the length of the sl'ot 67. Consequently, the motor casing 11 and its conlnec'fted fan blades are oscillated in a horif ing the operation of the fan motor.

In all of those movements of the fan'- wherein the roller 29 travels up and down,

the downward movement is in eiiect causedv by the action of gravity on the parts in conjunction with the air pressure on the revolving fan blades.

When the locking pawl 40 is in its released position, the fan blades may be revolved without alfecting the transmission mechanism lbetween the motor 'and the track 27. i

Although 'but one specilic embodiment of my invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be of course understood that the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown may be variously modified and lchanged `without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not want to be limited to the details and arrangement shown, except as. pointedout in the ap-4 pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l1. An air-circulating device comprising a supporting member, blower mechanism revolubly mounted thereon, a motor connected with saidv blower mechanism, coacting means on said supporting member and'said blower, mechanism, so constructed and adjusted that', upon the operation of said motor, said'blower mechanism will rotate to a predetermined extent in one direction with respect to said supporting member, will then rotate to a less extent in an` opposite direction, and will again rotate in the first direction.

2. "An4 air-circulating device comprising a supporting member, blower mechanism revolubly mounted thereon, a motor connected with said blower mechanism, and co-acting means carried by said supporting member and said'blower mechanlsm, so adjusted antifrictionally that the operation of said motor will cause said blower mechanism to rotate inl one Vdirection with respect to said supporting member, and to allow it to rotate in an opposite direction, under the influence of gravity.

3. vAn air-circulating device comprising a supporting member, blower mechanism 'revolubly and tiltably mounted thereon, a motor connected with said blower mecha- V`that the operation of'said motor will cause said blower mechanism to rotate in one direction' with respect to said supporting member, and to allow it to rotate in an opposite direction, under the influence of gravity.

4. An air-circulating device comprising a supporting member, blower mechanism revolubly and tiltably mounted thereon, a motor connected with said blower mechanism, and co-acting means carried by said blower mechanismv and said supporting member, so adjusted anti-frictionally that,

upon' the operation of said motor, said blower mechanism will rotate to a predetermined extent'in one vdirection with respect to said supporting member, will then rotate to a less extent in an opposite direction, and' will at all times be continuously tilted upy and down in a vertical plane.

5. An air-circulating device 'comprising a supporting member, blower mechanism revolubly mounted thereon, a motor connected .with said blower mechanism, and coacting means carried Qby said supporting member and said blower mechanism, so'adjusted anti-frictionally that, upon the operation of said motor, saidblower mechanismwill be allowed to rotate continuously about said supporting member in one direction, said continuous rotation, however, being interrupted rat predetermined intervals Iwith backward -rotation to a less extent. 6. An air-circulating device comprising a sup orting member, blower mechanism revolubly and tiltably mounted thereon, a motor connected with said blower mechanism, and co-acting means carried by said supporting member and said .blower mechanism, and so adjusted anti-rictionally that, upon the operation of said motor, said blower mechanism will be allowed to rotate continuously about said supporting memberin one direction, said continuous rotation, however, being interrupted at predetermined intervals with, backward rotation to a vless extent, and to be continuously tilted up and down in a vertical plane.

In-testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aiiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 18th day of June, A. Ill-1915.

GUSTAF OLSON.

Witnesses:

. EUGENE C. WANN,

C. L. PEorLns.

ilo 

